BARTLEY E. DAY was born in Fairview, UT, the son of Eli Azariah and Lucille Madsen Day. The family lived in Arizona and Wyoming until Bart was 13 years old, when the Days settled in Salt Lake City. Bart attended Lincoln Jr. High School and South High, where he became involved in the Junior ROTC program. He became a South High cadet colonel, and then cadet colonel of all Salt Lake City high schools. After graduating from high school in 1941, Bart worked in a lumberyard to earn money to attend the University of Utah, where he spent the next two years. In 1943, he enlisted in the Army and became a trainer at Camp Shelby, MS. Early in 1945, while attending Officer Candidate School, and with only two more weeks until graduation, Bart was notified he had been selected to attend West Point. He was faced with the tough choice of two weeks or four years to become a second lieutenant. He chose the four years.

As a cadet, Bart was a member of K-1 Company. He lent his rich bass singing voice to the Cadet Chapel Choir and the Cadet Glee Club and was a member of the Hop Committee and the Howitzer staff all four years. The '49 Howitzer predicted that "Bart's immutable smile and amiable personality, together with his ability, will carry him through."

During one summer leave, Bart discovered that "the little Olsen girl next door" was no longer a "little girl." The Olsens, neighbors of the Days, were a family of four girls that essentially adopted Bart as a big brother. Irene was one of the younger girls whom Bart saw as a "kid sister." It was after he'd entered the Army that Irene's young women's class at her church was requested to write a soldier, and she chose to write to Bart. In June 1949, Bart graduated as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery, and in December of that year, Bart and Irene married in the Salt Lake Mormon Temple after six long years of letter writing.

After completing the Artillery Schools at Ft Sill, OK, and Ft. Bliss, TX, Bart was assigned to the 517th Field Artillery Battalion in Germany. For the next three years, Bart was gone for long periods of time on maneuvers, while Irene began their family - first with son Carl and then with daughter Vicki. In December 1953, the Days, now four, returned home and went to their next assignment in the 548th Field Artillery Battalion at Ft. Sill, where Bart was promoted to captain.

In 1955, Bart received orders to the ROTC at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, where he was assistant professor of Military Science. He also was called to serve in the Mormon Bishopric, as one of three men to administer the workings of the "ward" or congregation. While in Colorado, the Days were blessed with a second daughter, Janice.

In 1957, Bart was sent on an unaccompanied tour to Thule, Greenland, where he commanded a battery in the 549th AAA Battalion. Seven months later, Bart made a hurried trip home to greet his second son, Wayne. During 1958-61, Bart served on the staff and faculty of the Artillery and Missile School at Ft. Sill, where he also served in the Bishopric of his church.

Bart was promoted to major in 1961 and assigned to CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, followed by an assignment to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. In 1963, tragedy visited the Day family when their first son, Carl, a gifted musician, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away six months later. Bart received a reassignment to the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA, and then to HQ, CentralArmy Group, Mannheim, Germany, where he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In Germany, Bart served as branch president of the Manheim Servicemen's Branch of the Mormon Church, and earned his master's degree from Boston University. During that tour, tragedy again visited the Days when their baby, Valerie, was still-born.

Bart returned to Ft. Sill in 1967 as Battalion Commander, 30th Artillery, where, in November, their son Dean was born. In addition to being battalion commander, Bart had become a bishop in his church, and later Deputy Commander, 214th Field Artillery Group at Ft Sill.

In 1969, Bart had a second unaccompanied tour, this time to Seoul, Korea, where he served as Secretary of the Joint Staff, Prov MAAG. He also served as counselor in the Korean Mission Presidency of the Mormon Church, presiding over the mission.

During 1970-72, Bart served at Headquarters, First Army, Ft. Meade, MD, and, once again, as bishop of his congregation. Bart was now COL Day, and was assigned in 1972 as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, where he spent his last five years on Active Duty. His military awards included the Legion of Merit, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and three awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

In 1977, after 35 years of military service, Bart elected to remain at BYU as a teacher and administrator for the next 12 years. In 1985, he received his Ph.D. in higher education administration and, in 1989, retired for a second time.

During his last six years, Bart and Irene moved to St. George, UT, for a kinder climate, with treks back to Orem for the summers. He remained active in his community, serving as president, vice president, and secretary for Kiwanis International and as district chairman for the Republican party.

In August 1994, Bart's diabetes that he had had for a number of years, began to cause complications throughout his body. The family had a joyous and last reunion before Bart passed away six weeks later.

A final quote from his loving children: "And so we say, 'with all the fervor of our being, `We love you, Daddy,' and we look forward to being by your side someday once more. God be with you 'til we meet again."'

His roomate and his family

Personal Eulogy